ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING DEVICE
An adjustable mounting device is described. The device can include a baseplate having a plurality of holes, a bracket having a horizontal element, vertical element, and plurality of holes, and a headed rod having a head portion coupled to the baseplate and a rod portion. The headed rod can be configured to provide an adjustable spaced distance between the baseplate and bracket. A system including a plurality of adjustable mounting devices is also described.
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The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/659,765, filed Apr. 19, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe disclosed subject matter relates generally to an adjustable mounting device and system comprising the same.
BACKGROUNDMountable objects such as solar panels are often mounted to the roof of a structure using a plurality of brackets that are secured to trusses under the roof deck.
SUMMARYIn various embodiments, an adjustable mounting device is disclosed. The device can comprise a baseplate comprising a plurality of holes; a bracket having a horizontal element, vertical element, and a plurality of holes; and a headed rod having a head portion coupled to the baseplate and a rod portion. The headed rod can be configured to provide an adjustable spaced distance between the baseplate and bracket.
In various embodiments, a system is disclosed. The system can comprise a plurality of adjustable mounting devices.
The features and advantages of the adjustable mounting bracket will be more fully disclosed in, or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which are to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts and further wherein:
This description of sample embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the product be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.
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In some embodiments, a bracket (6) is adjustably coupled to the baseplate (4). In some embodiments, the bracket (6) can include a horizontal element (10), a vertical element (12), and a plurality of holes. As shown in
In some embodiments, the horizontal element (10) of bracket (6) can include a first hole (26). In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the vertical element (12) of bracket (6) can include a second hole (16) for removably coupling a mountable object (e.g., a solar panel) with a fastener suitable for penetrating hole (16). The second hole (16) can be any suitable shape. In some embodiments, the second hole (16) can be circular, ellipsoidal, oblong, oval, etc. In some embodiments, the second hole (16) can have an oblong shape oriented with its long sides in a direction that is traverse to the horizontal element (10). In some embodiments, the second hole (16) can have an oblong shape oriented with its long sides in a direction that is vertical. For example, as shown in
In some embodiments, the bracket (6) is adjustably coupled to the baseplate (4) with a headed rod (8). In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
During installation of an adjustable mounting device according to some embodiments, the rod portion (9) passes through the first hole (26), with the horizontal element (10) of bracket (6) sandwiched between the securing nut (20) and the elevating nut (22). By sandwiching the horizontal element, the bracket can be held rigidly in place. In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, a system (40) including a plurality of adjustable mounting devices (2) is provided. In such embodiments, as shown in
The adjustable mounting device and system in accordance with some embodiments described herein can be utilized to secure mountable objects to a surface. For example, in some embodiments, the adjustable mounting device and system can be used to mount solar panels to the roof of a structure using a plurality of brackets that are secured to oriented strand board (OSB), plywood, or other sheathing materials, or directly to trusses under the roof deck. In some embodiments, the baseplate (4) of adjustable mounting bracket (2) can be mounted to a truss (T). For example, as shown in the sectional view in
In some circumstances, a surface may not be flat, or a panel may need to be mounted at a pitch (angle). If a mounting bracket is too rigid, different sized mounted brackets and/or brackets with different angles may be needed. The embodiments described herein provide an adjustable mounting device and system that allows an installer to use a system with a plurality of identical mounting devices, each of which are independently adjustable. The headed rod (8) and the bracket (6) provide a solar panel installer with multiple ways to adjust a panel. For example, the adjustable mounting device can include a headed rod (8) having an elevating nut (22) that is rotatably, adjustably coupled to the threaded rod portion (9), and a securing nut (20) that is rotatably, adjustably coupled to the threaded rod portion (9), whereby the elevating nut (22) and securing nut (20) can be simultaneously adjusted to secure the horizontal element (10) of bracket (6). The elevating nut (22) and the securing nut (20) can be adjusted vertically along a threaded rod portion (9) of the headed rod (8). This mechanism provides a convenient means of adjusting the spaced distance between the bracket and the baseplate (4) and roof; and, therefore, a means for adjusting the height of the mounted object relative to the baseplate (4) and roof at that specific location.
In addition, the vertical element (12) of bracket (6) can include an oblong second hole (16) adapted for coupling a mountable object to the bracket with a fastener. Because the second hole (16) can have an oblong shape oriented with its long sides in a direction that is traverse to the horizontal element (10), a fastener penetrating the second hole (16) can be adjusted so that the mounted object can be vertically adjusted at that specific position. When a solar panel is secured to a roof with a plurality of mounting brackets, this mechanism provides a convenient method for adjusting the height of the mountable object at each bracket.
Furthermore, the horizontal element (10) of the bracket (6) can include a first hole (26) through which the headed rod (8) passes. In some embodiments, the first hole can be an oblong first hole (26) oriented to extend longitudinally away from the vertical element (12), which will provide a way to horizontally adjust a mounted object after the baseplate has been secured to the structure.
The system in accordance with some embodiments described herein provides a convenient and streamlined method for installing mountable objects, such as solar panels, because it can include adjustable mounting devices having a baseplate that does not need to be secured to a roof beam, and the plurality of devices needed to secure a solar panel to a roof can be individually adjusted in both vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the roof.
Although the subject matter has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments, which may be made by those skilled in the art.
Claims
1. An adjustable mounting device, comprising:
- a baseplate comprising a plurality of holes;
- a bracket comprising a horizontal element, a vertical element, and a plurality of holes; and
- a headed rod having a head portion coupled to the baseplate and a rod portion;
- wherein the headed rod is configured to provide an adjustable spaced distance between the baseplate and bracket.
2. The adjustable mounting device of claim 1, wherein the baseplate comprises a fitted hole for retaining the head portion of the headed rod, and two or more peripheral holes, spaced apart from the fitted hole, for securing the baseplate to a structure.
3. The adjustable mounting device of claim 2, wherein the bracket comprises a first hole in its horizontal element for receiving the rod portion of the headed rod.
4. The adjustable mounting device of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a second hole in its vertical element for removably coupling a mountable object.
5. The adjustable mounting device of claim 4, wherein the mountable object is a solar panel.
6. The adjustable mounting device of claim 1, wherein the headed rod comprises a screw thread beginning on its end opposite the head portion.
7. The adjustable mounting device of claim 6, further comprising an elevating nut threaded on the headed rod, wherein the elevating nut is between the baseplate and the bracket, and adjacent to a bottom face of the bracket's horizontal element.
8. The adjustable mounting device of claim 6, further comprising a locking nut threaded on the headed rod between the baseplate and bracket, and secured to a top face of the baseplate.
9. The adjustable mounting device of claim 6, further comprising a securing nut for receiving the headed rod, wherein the securing nut is above the bracket and adjacent to a top face of the bracket.
10. The adjustable mounting device of claim 2, wherein the fitted hole is circular.
11. The adjustable mounting device of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises ridges on one or both faces of the vertical element, the horizontal element, or both elements.
12. The adjustable mounting device of claim 10, further comprising a deformable washer pressed into the ridges on one or both faces of the vertical element.
13. The adjustable mounting device of claim 3, wherein the headed rod extends through the fitted hole of the baseplate, which retains the head portion on a bottom face of the baseplate.
14. The adjustable mounting device of claim 13, wherein the headed rod further extends through the first hole on the horizontal element.
15. The adjustable mounting device of claim 1, wherein the horizontal element and the vertical element are orthogonal.
16. The adjustable mounting device of claim 4, wherein the hole on the vertical element has an oblong circle shape.
17. The adjustable mounting device of claim 3, wherein the hole on the horizontal element has an oblong circle shape.
18. The adjustable mounting device of claim 1, wherein the bracket is L-shaped.
19. The adjustable mounting device of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a single piece of metal.
20. A system comprising a plurality of adjustable mounting devices according to claim 1.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 7, 2018
Publication Date: Oct 24, 2019
Patent Grant number: 11070166
Applicant: Energy Consultants Group, LLC (Anamosa, IA)
Inventor: Jason C. Gideon (Anamosa, IA)
Application Number: 16/213,433